A controversial move to install 25,000 street lights in Perth and Kinross could save the council nearly £50,000 per year, it has been claimed.
The ambitious 10-year scheme will upgrade all the street lights to energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) lanterns.
Some LED lights were installed earlier this year in Feus Road, Crieff Road, Burghmuir Road and Jeanfield Road in Perth and several local residents hit out at the changes, claiming they made streets darker.
However, a spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said the local authority acted on feedback at that time and made the new lights brighter. She also said the life expectancy of the modern lights is estimated to be 20 years.
“In 2013/14, 900 lanterns were replaced with the LEDs, and this has already delivered an annual saving of 500,000 KWh, which represents approximately five per cent of our unmetered consumption,” she said.
“The electricity cost saving of these is £49,500 per year with a carbon reduction of 5000 tonnes of CO2 over the 20 year life cycle of the lanterns.”
She continued: “The first areas to be targeted by the project will be all of the main traffic routes in Perth and Kinross which currently consume the highest wattage and this will allow for significant savings in the coming years.
“The project aims to replace 250 lanterns per month.
“In addition to replacing the lanterns, a number of lighting columns will also be replaced as part of the programme.
“This will be funded entirely from the savings generated from the LED replacement programme, which will mean there is no pressure on the corporate capital budget for the first 10 years.”
Councillor John Kellas, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee, added: “Modern street lighting provides many benefits ranging from reduced road accidents, a reduction in the perceived risk of crime, the enhancement of general public safety and generally adds to the feeling of wellbeing of a community through the positive message that well maintained lit areas provide.
“We have already replaced some lanterns with LED lights, and received feedback on these when they were installed.
“This feedback was vital at the time to ensure that we were getting the balance of energy efficiency, while maintaining a level of lighting the public are happy with.
“This feedback has shaped how we are moving forward with the rest of the installation programme.”